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WomanSpace, September 2002

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San .\ntonio
Volume 14 Number 11 P.O. Box 12327, San Antonio, Tx 78212 (210) 828-LISA Sept2002
GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION
By Robin Early
For their October calendar, Jump-Start has requested Wild
French Productions to collaborate once again with Winn Wells'
endearing drama, Gertrude Stein and A Companion. Gertrude Stein
was, and is, a towering literary figure of pre-World War I. She was
a life-long "friend" of Alice B. Toklas, whom Hemingway most
often referred to as Gertrude's "companion", hence the title of this
play.
It is not often that gay and lesbian roles are offered in our
area. Thus, it is with great pleasure that I play the part of Alice.
Even though we are vastly different, and live in vastly different
times, there are many emotional similarities I find in playing her
character. In some ways, I feel more my "authentic self' than in
other roles. I like to think of myself as the woman behind the
woman with my own partner, helping her to be successful, as did
Alice with Gertrude. I can relate to the way she is very protective
of her, and even jealous of the close friends in her life, such as He­mingway
and Picasso. More than anything, I enjoy the tender mo­ments
in the show between Martha Prentiss (who plays Gertrude)
and myself. The poignant memories we share on stage are very
touching.
What Martha relishes about the role is the opportunity to
play Gertrude and to play with her words. She says although that is
her biggest joy, that is also her biggest challenge-the words. She
feels she is like Gertrude in the respect that she liked to have parties
and connect like-minded people, loved laughter, loved fun, and
that's a joy to be able to do. She feels she can relate to the 20's,
being an ex-Patriot in Paris, how they were freer in many ways,
with the arts, their sexuality, free thought, and living life with pas­sion.
When asked about what it's like to be an actor in the gay com­munity,
she said, "I feel that it really doesn't matter, being straight
or gay, it's how well you can act and if you fit the part." She doesn't
feel being a Lesbian or not affects her getting a role.
Mary Ann Colias, the Producer/Director of the show, also
is enthralled with Gertrude Stein's words, calling her the Matisse or
Picasso of literature for her time. That is, she revolutionized the
arts in the early part of this century. She loves the style in which
the play is written. It's written in a style that helps the audience
understand her words. The phrase, "a rose is a rose is a rose," is not
about nonsensical repetition. For her, it describes all that a rose is;
the rose is red for the first time in English poetry for over five hun­dred
years. Mary Ann likens that repetition to the columns of the
Parthenon. When you look at it, it is more than just breathtakingly
beautiful architecture. The repetition becomes magical.
continued on p. 3 ... ..... . .......... .
TRIBUTE TO DR. CONSUELO RAMIREZ
Dr. Norma Martinez Rogers
I recently heard that Consuela Ramirez, a woman I
have known for many years, received her Ph.D. from Our
Lady of the Lake University. When I first heard this news,
I felt joy and happiness for Consuelo. Her accomplishment
was not an easy task. This is a degree of "perseverance",
self-discipline, intelligence, and commitment. I know that
this was a dream for Consuelo and she was determined to
get this doctorate degree. This journey she took was diffi­cult
at times; however, in spite of some detours she may
have faced she was able to pursue this goal with the help of
her partner Pearl, and her close friends.
This accomplishment is one which should not be ·
taken lightly. Though Hispanics are the fastest growing
minority group in the United States we have not participated
in higher education in anything like our proportional repre­sentation
in the general population. If we accept the hy­pothesis
that all groups in society (e .g., ethnic, racial, and
socioeconomic groups) ought to participate in higher· educa­tion
at rates equal to their presence in the general popula­tion;
then we, Hispanics, are clearly underrepresented in
higher education. Hispanic women are the most poorly
educated women in our society. Presently, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau (2000), there are 6,664,000 women in
the United States who have advanced degrees, meaning a
Master's or Doctorate degree. Of these, only 96,000 (1.8%)
are women of Mexican descent. Sometimes we educated
Hispanic women forget that most of us are uneducated be­cause
we have a tendency to socialize with others who are
also accomplished.
Consuelo, mi amiga, it was a distinct pleasure to
write this tribute to you. You have truly filled me with
pride and respect for reaching to the sky and becoming an
"estrella". By becoming a "doctora", I know you recognize
the significant influence you will make on other people's
lives. I know you believe as Kahlil Gibran that "Progress is
not merely improving the past; it is moving forward toward
the future. Con cariflo, Norma
Norma Martinez Rogers was recently recognized as the
outstanding leader of Hispanic nurses in the United States.
WomanSpace is a member of the Esperanza Network. The work of the Esperanza is based on the belief that all forms of bigotry and oppression
within our community and in the world at large, can only be stopped by addressing the inherent connection between them, and by creating alli­ances.
Please consider group or individual participation. We'd like to get to know you. Call (21 0) 828-020 I

Pnltlisht"ff
bythl'
\\'OIIll'II1S
(~ommwmitJ
of
San .\ntonio
Volume 14 Number 11 P.O. Box 12327, San Antonio, Tx 78212 (210) 828-LISA Sept2002
GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION
By Robin Early
For their October calendar, Jump-Start has requested Wild
French Productions to collaborate once again with Winn Wells'
endearing drama, Gertrude Stein and A Companion. Gertrude Stein
was, and is, a towering literary figure of pre-World War I. She was
a life-long "friend" of Alice B. Toklas, whom Hemingway most
often referred to as Gertrude's "companion", hence the title of this
play.
It is not often that gay and lesbian roles are offered in our
area. Thus, it is with great pleasure that I play the part of Alice.
Even though we are vastly different, and live in vastly different
times, there are many emotional similarities I find in playing her
character. In some ways, I feel more my "authentic self' than in
other roles. I like to think of myself as the woman behind the
woman with my own partner, helping her to be successful, as did
Alice with Gertrude. I can relate to the way she is very protective
of her, and even jealous of the close friends in her life, such as He­mingway
and Picasso. More than anything, I enjoy the tender mo­ments
in the show between Martha Prentiss (who plays Gertrude)
and myself. The poignant memories we share on stage are very
touching.
What Martha relishes about the role is the opportunity to
play Gertrude and to play with her words. She says although that is
her biggest joy, that is also her biggest challenge-the words. She
feels she is like Gertrude in the respect that she liked to have parties
and connect like-minded people, loved laughter, loved fun, and
that's a joy to be able to do. She feels she can relate to the 20's,
being an ex-Patriot in Paris, how they were freer in many ways,
with the arts, their sexuality, free thought, and living life with pas­sion.
When asked about what it's like to be an actor in the gay com­munity,
she said, "I feel that it really doesn't matter, being straight
or gay, it's how well you can act and if you fit the part." She doesn't
feel being a Lesbian or not affects her getting a role.
Mary Ann Colias, the Producer/Director of the show, also
is enthralled with Gertrude Stein's words, calling her the Matisse or
Picasso of literature for her time. That is, she revolutionized the
arts in the early part of this century. She loves the style in which
the play is written. It's written in a style that helps the audience
understand her words. The phrase, "a rose is a rose is a rose," is not
about nonsensical repetition. For her, it describes all that a rose is;
the rose is red for the first time in English poetry for over five hun­dred
years. Mary Ann likens that repetition to the columns of the
Parthenon. When you look at it, it is more than just breathtakingly
beautiful architecture. The repetition becomes magical.
continued on p. 3 ... ..... . .......... .
TRIBUTE TO DR. CONSUELO RAMIREZ
Dr. Norma Martinez Rogers
I recently heard that Consuela Ramirez, a woman I
have known for many years, received her Ph.D. from Our
Lady of the Lake University. When I first heard this news,
I felt joy and happiness for Consuelo. Her accomplishment
was not an easy task. This is a degree of "perseverance",
self-discipline, intelligence, and commitment. I know that
this was a dream for Consuelo and she was determined to
get this doctorate degree. This journey she took was diffi­cult
at times; however, in spite of some detours she may
have faced she was able to pursue this goal with the help of
her partner Pearl, and her close friends.
This accomplishment is one which should not be ·
taken lightly. Though Hispanics are the fastest growing
minority group in the United States we have not participated
in higher education in anything like our proportional repre­sentation
in the general population. If we accept the hy­pothesis
that all groups in society (e .g., ethnic, racial, and
socioeconomic groups) ought to participate in higher· educa­tion
at rates equal to their presence in the general popula­tion;
then we, Hispanics, are clearly underrepresented in
higher education. Hispanic women are the most poorly
educated women in our society. Presently, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau (2000), there are 6,664,000 women in
the United States who have advanced degrees, meaning a
Master's or Doctorate degree. Of these, only 96,000 (1.8%)
are women of Mexican descent. Sometimes we educated
Hispanic women forget that most of us are uneducated be­cause
we have a tendency to socialize with others who are
also accomplished.
Consuelo, mi amiga, it was a distinct pleasure to
write this tribute to you. You have truly filled me with
pride and respect for reaching to the sky and becoming an
"estrella". By becoming a "doctora", I know you recognize
the significant influence you will make on other people's
lives. I know you believe as Kahlil Gibran that "Progress is
not merely improving the past; it is moving forward toward
the future. Con cariflo, Norma
Norma Martinez Rogers was recently recognized as the
outstanding leader of Hispanic nurses in the United States.
WomanSpace is a member of the Esperanza Network. The work of the Esperanza is based on the belief that all forms of bigotry and oppression
within our community and in the world at large, can only be stopped by addressing the inherent connection between them, and by creating alli­ances.
Please consider group or individual participation. We'd like to get to know you. Call (21 0) 828-020 I